Swimming device.



J. A. EDWARDS.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1910.

' 9491 36 Patented' June 6,1911.

ATTORNEYS JOI-IN A. EDWARDS, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

saisies,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 6, 1911.

Application filed September 2'?, 1910. Serial No. 584,041.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State ofAlabama, have invented a new and Improved Swimming Device, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to swimming devices, and more particularly to adevice comprising` a plurality of floats, a frame-work arranged upon andsupported by the iioats, and adjustable means attached to saidframe-work for supporting a swimmer in 'f the water.

rIhe object of this invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed, simple and serviceable in construction and inexpensive tomanufacture, which can be employed to support a person in the water, andwhich is so constructed as to allow the free use of the swimmers limbsat all times.

rFhe invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter, and particularly set forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention, showingthe manner in which it supports a swimmer; and Fig. 2 is an enlargedcross section of one of the floats.

Before proceeding to a more detailed description of my invention, itshould be understood that great difficulty has been encountered inconstructing a suitable device for teachinga person how to swim. Toobviate this difficulty, I have constructed a device which, as beforedescribed, consists of a plurality of floats, having a frame-workarranged thereon, and adjustable means secured to the frame-work forsupporting a person in a natural swimming position in the water, whileallowing him free use of his limbs. In this way, my invention does awaywith the necessity of another person assisting the swimmer, and allowsthe latter to practice to better advantage the different strokes used inswimming. It might also be stated that my device can be used in bothrough and smooth water, and would be of assistance to the user inrescuing another 'person from drowning.

In the specific form shown in the drawings, I provide a'plurality ofhollow floats 1, preferably rectangular in form and made of any suitablematerial, such as tin, galvanized sheet metal, or the like. Each floathas a projection 2 on its upper face, provided with a suitably threadedopening 3. Supported by the lioats is a frame-work consisting ofuprights 4 having their lower extremities 1a threaded and adapted to bereceived in the threaded openings 3 in the floats, side members 5, endmembers 6, and a cross member 7. These several members have theirextremities suitably threaded, so that by the use of angle couplings 8,into which these ends may be screwed, there is constituted a rigidframe-work supported by the iioats, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing. The front end member 6 and the cross member 7 are eachprovided with an eye 9, while the rear end member 6 is provided with twoeyes 9a. Adapted to be removably attached at the eyes are adjustablehangers 10 constructed of some suitable material, such as leather or thelike, and having snap catches 11 at their extremities.

Before using my device, the swimmer places a band 12 of suitablematerial, having an eye 13, about his head, a band 14: about his waist,having an eye 15, and two bands 16 one around each leg just above theknee, and having eyes 17. Vhen the swimmer is ready to go into thewater, he positions himself between the floats, and attaches the snaphooks 11 at the lower extremities of the hangers 10, to the eyes of theleg, waist and head bands, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, hecan then assume the usual swimming position between the floats.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the class described, a plurality of floats, aframe-work arranged upon said floats, and means movably secured to saidframe-work for supporting a swimmer.

2. In a device of the class described, a plurality of floats, aframe-work carried by said fioats, and adjustable means attached to saidframe-work for supporting a swimmer, at .different parts of his body.

, 3. In a device of the class described, a plu- In testimony whereof Ihave signed my ralty of separate floats, an upright mountname to thisspeoicaton n the presence of ed on each float, frame members arrangedtwo subscribing Witnesses.

upon and connected to said uprights, and JOHN A. EDWARDS. adjustablehangers secured to said members Witnesses:

and arranged to support a swimmer in the WV. J. CONNIFF,

Water. CLARENCE CRAIG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

